TAI'AN, Shandong Province, China - Chinese Qiu Hongmei won the women's 58kg gold medal at the Asian Weightlifting Championships with a world record of 141kg in the jerk¹ here on Monday.

Qiu Hongmei, 24, hoisted2 a total of 241kg, with the 141kg new world record in the jerk and 100kg in snatch3 at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tai'an, Shandong Province April 23, 2007. [Xinhua]

Qiu, 24, hoisted a total of 241kg, with the 141kg new world record in the jerk and 100kg in snatch. The previous world mark in the jerk was 140kg set by fellow Chinese Chen Yanqing.

Thongsuk Sureeat of Thailand took the silver at 214kg, while Yumnam Bala Chanu from India settled for the bronze at 204kg.

Qiu, winner of the world championship 2006, made three clear lifts of 125kg, 135kg and 141kg in jerk. Her previous best record in the jerk was 130kg in the world championships 2006.

"I wanted to break Chen's record, and I was very confident I could do it", said Qiu, "I didn't perform very well in the snatch. I hoped to lift 112kg, but I only made 100kg."

In the snatch, Qiu failed in her first two attempts at 100kg, but succeeded in the last try.

Kameaim Wandee from Thailand, winner of the 9th world university championships, finished second in the snatch at 92kg. Kameaim tried to lift 100kg in her last two attempts, but failed.

"Qiu's performance justified⁴ our winter training", said Li Shunzhu, coach of the Chinese weightlifting women's team, "Although she broke the world record of the jerk, she is still too inexperienced in international competitions to do well in the snatch."

"The Chinese team will not be relaxed. Though we broke the world record, it's the Asian Championships, we should pay attention to the athletes from Europe." Li added